The Past Part XII – Rukawa and Sakuragi II

Even he had to admit, it was amazing to watch at times … to see a still developing basketball player like Shohoku's resident dou-ahou dominate defensively, at basically an All-Japan level when he felt like it, but still struggle at times with basic offensive moves, like the current pull-up jump shot drills he had been putting him through for the last hour. Still … he was hitting them about 50% of the time whereas before it was closer to zero, so he'd take his triumphs with the red-head when he could.

Rukawa sighed, and then yelled to Sakuragi on the other side of the court, "Take a break, we'll get back to training after you rehydrate yourself." Sakuragi turned in the middle of taking a shot, and yelled back, "I can do another 100 of these no sweat, Fox!" Rukawa, angry at Sakuragi's refusal to stop, picked up one of the numerous practice balls lying around him on the floor, took aim, and knocked Sakuragi's ball out of his hands with a well-aimed throw of his ball.

Sakuragi wasn't impressed. "First Gori, then Micchi, and now you! You guys aren't like the Old Man, letting me do what I need to do until I can't do it anymore! His 20 000 camp … now that was a practice!"

Rukawa sighed again. "Idiot! It's not always about taking the most shots all the time, or being the most tired. Anzai-sensei gave you the basic feel for shooting, but now you need to develop the skills around that. Damn it! It's taken me years to get those things right …" and then, Rukawa stopped talking.

Sakuragi, sensing something had changed, wandered over to his rival. "What? Cat got your tongue? If I didn't know better, I'd say you were … jealous?" As Sakuragi said the last word, he suddenly understood what Rukawa was having trouble saying.

"You really are jealous of me, of my abilities!" "And why shouldn't I be!" Rukawa retorted. "I spent years of my life honing my skills to be good enough to be one of the best players, if not the best player, in all of Japan, and you just fall out of the sky and take over Shohoku?! Damn right I'm jealous! It's all so damn easy for you!"

Sakuragi looked down at the floor for a moment, and then back up at Rukawa, seriousness etched on his face. "It hasn't been easy for me, Fox, being out of my comfort zone these past few months, away from my gang. I've tried to be the best I can, to learn enough to be a good basket-man, good enough not to let all of you down when we play for real. But, there's so much to learn, so much to do!"

Sakuragi slammed his right fist onto the floor, leaving a smoking crater. "I hate that I am the weak link on the team, and now that Gori and Megane-kun have left … I need to be even better than I have been! But, after my injury … I still don't know if I can even reach the level I was at before. Still, I've taken whatever all of you have given me, and will keep giving Shohoku my all, no matter what happens!"

Sakuragi smiled, and then began to laugh at Rukawa. "So, Fox, are you going to let this Tensai not be all that he can be, all because you think that someone might challenge you as the ace? Don't forget that Sawa something guy on Sannoh, who made you look like the Number 2 you are! You need to be challenged! You won't get better without that, better than Sendoh … and even I can see that!"

Rukawa thought for a minute, and then nodded. "Okay … Sakuragi. I'll give you everything I have. But, in return …." Sakuragi, nodding, finished Rukawa's sentence for him …" I help you be better than Sendoh. Hey … Rukawa … I can do that, but don't be surprised if I become the best before you, because this Tensai is a fast learner! Let me show you what I can really do!"

As Sakuragi picked up a ball and promptly shot into the nearest hoop, for the first time ever in his dealings with the red-head, Rukawa cracked a small smile, and thought to himself, We'll see ….